All of the talk about the world ending on May 21 comes from one organization run by one man: Harold Camping's Family Radio.

At first glance it would seem that 89-year-old Camping is running the biggest scam the world has ever seen -- racking up donations from terrified believers around the world right up until 6 PM on May 21 when... the world doesn't end... and Camping and all of those donations vanish into thin air.

But here's the surprising thing.

Most of Family Radio's revenue -- generated almost entirely by donations -- is put back into advertising and broadcasting costs.

Although Family Radio is valued at $72 million in its latest financial statements the company claims to have around $1.5 million in cash, according to an profile by CNN. It pays $56 million just in FCC broadcasting licenses.

If this is a scam, then it's far more clever than your average fire-and-brimstone hotline. Or maybe it isn't a scam at all.

There's nothing scammy about the website.

Except for a small "Donate Online" button in the corner of the screen, the site is focused entirely on educating you about the coming apocalypse. There's even a FAQ on the site where Camping responds to lots of big questions, like "Doesn't the Bible say no man will know the end of times"? and "Didn't you predict the end of the world in 1994?"

What happens if May 21 ends and nothing occurs? Camping doesn't acknowledge this possibility:

The Biblical evidence is too overwhelming and specific to be wrong. Christ's people can look with great confidence to this date because God promises His "beloved" He will not come upon them as a thief in the night. God in His mercy has revealed the vital information needed to know the day. Judgment Day on May 21, 2011 will occur because the bible declares it. Anyone whom God has not saved will arrive at that day with no hope for salvation. God warns simply the "door will be shut."

Sadly, people like Camping give Christians a bad name. NO one knows when Jesus will return except the Father! It is silly & foolish to make predictions like this which will not come true. It is not a good thing.

My wife was traveling on business this week and received a copy of USA Today at the hotel (trash, we read the WSJ). On Wednesday FamilyRadio had a full page ad all about “Judgement Day”. I just can’t fathom how many get suckered into such idiocy.

8
posted on 05/20/2011 6:52:59 AM PDT
by Second Amendment First
("Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not..." - Thomas Jefferson.)

I think Camping is 100% wrong. Jesus did say he would come as a thief in the night, and did not promise his “Beloved” no such exemption.

That being said, the tone of the article is one of the big problems that the Western world faces. They don’t believe anyone “really” believes. They think everyone is running a scam. They think is anyone can make a dime off of religion... well, isn’t that what religion and belief has always been about?

There IS one good thing about this whole thing: After May 21, FamilyRadio (not to be confused with American Family Radio, which is a solid, fundamentalist Christian organization)) should cease to exist - their leader and all of their supporters will either be gone or too embarrassed to come into the daylight (although they should have ceased to exist in 1994 when his first prophecy proved to be false).

"Sadly, people like Camping give Christians a bad name. NO one knows when Jesus will return except the Father! It is silly & foolish to make predictions like this which will not come true. It is not a good thing."

I am very concerned for Mr. Camping and his followers. His Bible understanding is flawed and he is preaching a flawed message. He and his believers are in danger of suffering a grave spiritual crisis.

“A wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgement” Ecc. 8:5 is the basis for his entire doctrine, and yet this passage is found in the context of how a God-fearing man ought to respond to a worldly king. Romans 13 is very similar to this passage in ideas.

When a person begins a preaching stance on scripture that has been taken out of context, he/she always runs the risk of becoming out of sink with the whole of the teachings of the inspired Word.

Those who have more rightly divided the Word of Truth need to be prepared to help the many who will suffer spiritual disillusion because of Mr. Camping’s false teaching.

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